Ironman 70.3 Centrair Tokoname
Trip Start
Jul 26, 2008
1
36
48
Trip End
May 17, 2013
Tokoname, Aichi, Japan
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Check out the details of triathlon races here,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triathlon
The official website of Ironman 70.3 Centrair Tokoname Japan shows its details.
http://ironman703.jp/e/
The start time of the race was 7:30 in the morning. I couldn't get up to make it and arrived at the venue at 8:10. When I arrived at the starting point of swimming, only two waves (groups) had not started yet. The athletes of the first wave was coming back to the shore. I heard that the distance of swimming was shortened due to a bad condition of the sea. because the distances of biking and running were not changed, it was bad luck to the athletes who were good at swimming. Anyway, after the athletes got on the land, they changed clothes and started biking. The last swimmer was a blind athlete followed by a guide swimmer. When she crossed the finish line of swimming, everybody there applauded. Even though she was the last swimmer, everybody knew she was a great athlete who finished the long-distance swim race.
After that, I took a shuttle bus to the city gymnasium, which was the transition point from bike to run. The bus was operated by Meitetsu Bus Corp. and free of charge. I saw a lot of racers go off the proper route and staffers orient them. I was sorry for one of the racers who crossed the finish line of bike and got disqualified. I checked out the map of the bike route and found out that the route was really complicated. Of course, it was a failure of the racers, but I wonder whether it was a problem of the racers or the competition host. Anyway, I didn't stay there long. I took a shuttle bus to the Rinku Beach, where the goal was located.
When I arrived at the beach, the top runner had already crossed the finish line. I managed to make it to his interview. The two top bikers at the last transition point were New Zealanders, but the winner of the competition was Japanese and the second was Swedish. I was able to see the winner of women's category finish and she was the first finisher even at the last transition point. After a while, I was satisfied with the race, leaving the goal. I walked along the beach, cheering up the competitors running on the promenade in there. A few of them appreciated it and I cheered up all the more for the appreciations. The scenery of the beach was also excellent and I was so impressed. When I reached the bus stop, I got on a bus for the airport, which was packed, because the athletes who finished the race were heading to the airport to attend the awarding party. I thought I would like to give up my seat to an athlete, but because there were a lot of tired athletes on the bus, I didn't know to whom I should do it, and stayed in my seat after all... By the way, I saw a lot of volunteers all around the venues. If I had known that triathlon was a great race, I might have volunteered, too. All in all, I had a great experience in Tokoname.
